The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the rail regulator, has
authorised Northumberland Park Station in North
Tyneside, the fifth of six stations to
open as part of the Northumberland Line
project. Northumberland Park is set to open on Sunday 22
February. Bedlington Station, the final station on
the line, is expected to be authorised and open in March
2026.
The Northumberland Line project has
reintroduced passenger rail services between Newcastle
Central and Ashington, improving connectivity and providing
a new transport option for communities across
Northumberland.
The station offers step-free access via a new lift, providing
accessible connections to the platform. The station is
conveniently located near the existing Tyne & Wear
Metro station and multi-storey car park,
supporting the seamless interchange between rail
services.
ORR's authorisation covers the station's
new features, including a new
platform and waiting shelter, customer information
systems, help points, ticket vending machines and CCTV.
The regulator's authorisation is a key milestone in getting
new, upgraded, or renewed infrastructure, such as at
Northumberland Park station, ready to open. It also confirms
that standards on areas like health and safety, accessibility,
environmental protection, reliability and availability
have been met.
ORR has worked closely with Northumberland County Council,
Network Rail, Northern Trains, and the wider project team
through the authorisation process, ensuring that important checks
and surveys were carried out.
Steve Fletcher, Deputy Director, Engineering and Asset
Management at ORR, said:
“This is an important step for improving rail connectivity in and
around Northumberland, and we look forward to seeing the
upgrades open for passengers soon.”
“We're pleased to have played our part in getting
Northumberland Park station ready to open. Our team worked
closely with Northumberland County Council, Network
Rail, and Northern Trains to support them through
the authorisation process, just as we do for new trains and
infrastructure across the country.”
Notes to editors
